Discovering Rural Europe
presentation title
subtitle of presentation
Discovering Rural Europe
Need for sustainable hiking products and cooperation
David Bröderbauer, Naturefriends International
Naturefriends International
Introduction
• Since 1895
• 45 member organisations
• About 500.000 members
• Promoting sustainable tourism
USA
Senegal
Togo
Naturefriends
Members...
• manage 1000 Naturefriends houses worldwide
• organise tours and tourism activities
• Maintain climbing routes and hiking paths
Naturefriends house Bovezzo (ITA)
‘Need for sustainable hiking products’
Why hiking?
Why hiking as a tourism product is not such a bad idea
• Not every region has a beach...
...hiking is well suited for remote/rural areas that want to attract more tourists
• It is not summer all the year round...and not every day...
...diversification of the tourism offers
• Hiking is healthy...and trendy!
• Hikers are curious about a region’s offers
Why sustainable?
Hiking itself is a sustainable means of travelling...isn’t it?
• Hiking tourism supports regional development in remote areas
–> economical sustainability
• Hiking can generate high added value for locals as they can realise many offers themselves; also synergetic
effects (hiking and...culture, food, wellbeing...) –> economical sustainability
Why sustainable?
Hiking itself is a sustainable means of travelling...isn’t it?
• Hiking does not depend on much infrastructure -> ecological sustainability
• Exchange between locals and hikers – raises awareness for the peculiarities in the region, especially for the
environment
–> social sustainability
Why sustainable hiking products are important
• Successful hiking products depend on beautiful landscapes: degraded landscapes and too much construction may deterr hikers
• Successful hiking offers can cause problems:
littering, carrying capacity of protected areas and sensible habitats, uncontrolled development ->
control is needed
• Mobility: How do hikers reach the region? Public transport or local providers very important for sustainable offer
...but very difficult in remote areas.
Why sustainable hiking products are important
• Hikers are looking for authentical experiences –> how to create an authentical offer?
…Need for local products, traditions, sights, accomodations (homestays, locals offering guestrooms, small appartments)
Why cooperation?
Where do I find the trail?
Which trail is
…easy?
…hikable?
…beautiful?
Hiking means discovering...
Where can I dry my wet stuff?
Where can find water?
How will the weather be tomorrow?
Where is the
monument? Where can I get a
massage?
Why cooperation
Components that shape the quality of experience for hikers
Müller / Quack / Thiele 2014. In: Küblöck & Thiele (Hrsg.) - Tourismus und Innovation.
…unique landscape Primary offer
Quality of infrastructure Target group-oriented product/service-quality
Experience/
Atmosphere
…paths, accomodation
…local food, traditions
…in the guest‘s mind
Why cooperation?
Unique landscapes
European regions have to team up to
create a common brand!
Why cooperation?
Quality of infrastructure and product quality
• Locals have to be involved in order to have a good product ...information and authenticity
• Do locals have the knowledge to deal with hikers?
• Tour operators can fill in the role of locals – but they also depend on locals (e.g. guides) – only a motivated guide will enable a fullfilling hiking
experience www.vol.at (Naturfreunde Vorarlberg)
Why cooperation?
Regional level
• Mobility: a big task to create a sustainable transport system
• Cooperation with protected areas
Challenges for Hiking Europe
• Emphasize the need for sustainable products
• Bottom up vs. top down
• Importance of the regional level
• International cooperation
Thank you!
CONTACT:
David Bröderbauer
Naturefriends International
E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +43-1-8923877-15